MEDICARE TELEHEALTH FLEXIBILITIES EXTENDED   

Based on the continuing resolution passed by Congress and signed by President Biden (H.R.10545), Medicare telehealth flexibilities have been extended until March 31, 2025. This means in-person visit requirements would not apply for mental health services provided via telehealth until April 1, 2025. More information about Medicare’s telehealth rules can be found in the Medicare Learning Network’s Fact Sheet on Telehealth services.

Letters from Medicare Administrative Contractors Regarding Enrollment Status 

As of January 1, 2024 MFTs and MHCs (AKA LPCCs) are eligible Medicare providers. For this reason, all MFTs and LPCCs must let their patients know about their Medicare status AND inquire about their patients’ Medicare status. 

Providers who have not opted out of or into (enrolled in) the Medicare system but are seeing Medicare beneficiaries can expect receive a letter from their regional Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) explaining the following: 

• Eligible providers who work with Medicare beneficiaries may not collect any private pay fees from those patients UNLESS 1) the provider has submitted an opt-out affidavit to the appropriate MAC and 2) the providers’ patients have signed private pay contracts which include specific provisions related to Medicare. 
• Eligible providers who did not file an opt-out affidavit within 10 days of signing a private pay contract with a Medicare beneficiary are required to 1) Enroll as a Medicare provider; and 2) Submit claims on behalf of the Medicare beneficiary to the appropriate MAC. 

For more information about Medicare and how to opt into or out of the Medicare system, visit CAMFT’s Medicare Corner.. Providers who have questions about their Medicare status and/or letters they are receiving from Noridian may contact Noridian directly at 1-855-609-9960. 

CALIFORNIA SECURES $1.9 BILLION IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE INVESTMENTS

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) demonstration, securing $1.9 billion to support workforce recruitment and retention and address workforce shortages in behavioral health practitioners serving Medi-Cal members and uninsured individuals.

CAMFT will continue its advocacy with these investments to ensure the initiative includes scholarships, loan repayment programs, and other interventions to support MFTs and other non-prescribing licensed and pre-licensed clinicians.

The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) is offering exciting scholarship opportunities for applicants preparing to become behavioral health professionals. 

Eligible applicants may receive up to $35,000 in exchange for a 12-month service obligation practicing and providing direct care in an underserved community. An informational webinar on eligibility and how to apply will be held on January 16, 2025, from 1:30pm – 3:30pm. You can register for the webinar here. 

The application cycle for this program is open from January 2 – February 13, 2025. To help determine if you are eligible for a funding opportunity, please use the HCAI Funding Eligibility Tool.

ATTEND BBS BOARD MEETINGS 

CAMFT encourages all members to attend BBS Board and Committee meetings to better understand upcoming changes to your licensure path, supervision requirements, workforce development, etc. Virtual attendance is also an option.  The next BBS meeting will take place on November 14 -15 in Sacramento. To see webcast info and more, Click here. 

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BBS NEWSLETTER    
The BBS Newsletter is your go-to source for the latest updates, announcements, and insights directly from the Board of Behavioral Sciences. 

Sign up for either General information updates covering topics like licensing, exams, renewals, legislation, and agenda notices, or opt for Enforcement Actions to stay informed about fines and citations. You can subscribe to one or both newsletters here. 

GET READY TO VOTE FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS!  

Our Nominating Committee has chosen the slate of candidates to run for the Board of Directors. Click here to view the candidates and read their statements.

LOOKING FOR RESEARCH TO SUPPORT YOUR WORK? 

Did you know that as a CAMFT member, you have unlimited, 24/7 access to EBSCOhost’s Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection? This database contains thousands of academic journals, book reviews, and magazines focused on behavioral sciences.  

With this powerful tool, you can search, view, and print full-text articles -- not just summaries or abstracts -- keeping you informed and up-to-date on the latest trends and data in your field. 

Your CAMFT member login is required to access the EBSCOhost Publishing Databases. Get started here! 

TAKE THE BYLAWS SURVEY  

Our Bylaws Committee continues to review CAMFT’s Bylaws, ensuring our Bylaws reflect the needs of our community. As members, your voice and input matter. Please help steer our committee’s efforts by sharing your insights on pre-licensed voting rights, agency memberships, board composition, and more. Click here to take the quick survey. 

Join us Friday, February 21, 2025 at 9am for a three-hour workshop with Mike Griffin, JD: Why Should I Care About the CAMFT Code of Ethics? We’ll learn a broad overview of the ethical standards found in Part I of the CAMFT Code of Ethics and the procedures expressed in Part II of the Code which govern the actions taken when an ethics complaint is filed. 

Workshop Purpose

This three-hour workshop provides a broad overview of the ethical Standards found in Part I of the CAMFT Code of Ethics. The Procedures found in Part II of the Code will be briefly described.

The workshop will discuss examples of alleged ethical violations that are reported to the Ethics Committee and offer suggestions to therapists regarding ethical practice.

Vignettes will be utilized, as appropriate, to illustrate examples of scenarios which often lead to complaints, and to suggest practices which may be helpful to therapists in avoiding ethical problems.

Attendees at this workshop who are licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed professional clinical counselors and licensed clinical social workers may earn a total of three hours of continuing education (CEU) credit in legal and ethical issues. Attendees who are Registered Associate marriage and family therapists, Registered Associate professional clinical counselors, and Registered Associate clinical social workers, may earn 3 hours of continuing education in legal and ethical issues, as required by the Board of Behavioral Sciences for registrants during each of their one-year registration renewal periods.

Topics to be discussed

I. What is the purpose of the Code of Ethics?

II. Who is obligated to follow the Code of Ethics?

III. What topics are addressed in the Code of Ethics?

IV. What does it mean to say that something is “unethical?”

V. How can therapists avoid ethical complaints?

Course Objectives 

Attendees at this workshop will be able to:

1. Explain what the Code of Ethics says about “Ethical Decision-Making.”

2. Utilize the Code of Ethics to locate ethical standards which concern Confidentiality; Informed Consent; Telehealth; Responsibility to the Legal System; Financial Arrangements; Advertising; Dual/Multiple Relationships, and other topics.

3. Identify one or more ethical considerations when working with clients who are involved with the legal system.

4. Identify one or more ethical considerations when a client asks you to write a letter.

THREE NEW LAW & ETHICS WEBINARS NOW AVAILABLE ON OUR LEARNING LIBARARY! 

Are you in need of Law & Ethics CE credits? Good news – we have three new recordings of recent L&E webinars, now available in our On-Demand Learning Library!  

• Law and Ethics New Year, New Laws: What You Need to Know to Thrive in 2025 (3 CEs) 

• Law & Ethics: You Get a Subpoena and You Get a Subpoena! (3 CEs)  

• Law and Ethics: Untangling the Errors of Others (3 CEs) 

JOIN A LOCAL CAMFT CHAPTER

CAMFT has 24 chapters throughout the state that offer local programs and networking opportunities for MFTs. You can find your local chapter here. Be sure to ask how they support pre-licensees!

PRE-LICENSE JOB SITES AND JOB OPENINGS

Use your membership login and password to get access to this directory that showcases job sites throughout California that pay Associate Marriage and Family Therapists and provide supervision for hours. Log in to view.

LOOKING FOR SUPERVISION?

Check out the directory of CAMFT Certified Supervisors! Our CAMFT Certified Supervisors have gone above and beyond the BBS requirements for supervision to complete the advanced training. Find a CAMFT Certified Supervisor.

Getting to Know the Members of Our Chapter Advisory Council

Omar González-Valentino, LMFT, LPCC (Inland Empire Chapter)
Chair

I have been a CAMFT member since 2015. I am past president of the Inland Empire Chapter and have served on its board since 2015. Over the years, I’ve contributed to the chapter in a variety of additional ways, including technical assistance, media support, outreach, recruitment, and member appreciation. I am passionate about CAMFT’s support of MFTs and other helping professionals and how the organization advocates on their behalf. I serve as chair of the Chapter Advisory Council so I can bring greater awareness of CAMFT benefits to current and future members while also helping to recruit talented early-career professionals for state-level leadership. I have wide-ranging clinical experience and a passion for organizational leadership. I believe in the CAMFT mission and serve in my current capacity to advance that mission through the CAC.

Jonathan Flier, LMFT (Los Angeles Chapter)
Member

In 2008, I volunteered to revive and rebuild the Los Angeles Chapter of CAMFT. I formed a board of directors, and over time we’ve grown from 12 members to more than 400. Based on my experiences as a chapter leader, I understand what an important role CAMFT played in our rebirth. I joined the Chapter Leadership Council in 2015 and served as chair for two years. By staying on the council, I want to continue to guide CAMFT in allocating resources efficiently so that all the California chapters can grow.

Ashley Green, LMFT (Redding Regional Chapter)
Member

I have been practicing psychotherapy in Redding since 2012. For the past eight years, I’ve been in private practice, where I also supervise associates. I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from California Southern University. I am a certified CEPA provider who teaches classes on how therapists can help clients survive narcissism, and I’m working toward completion of the certified supervisor program. In addition, I served as board president of the Redding chapter in 2023 and 2024, and I’ll serve as past president for 2025. I enjoy working with adults, teens, tweens, and families, with a focus on survivors of narcissism, postpartum mental health, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, trauma, life changes, and grief and loss.

Keonna Robinson, LMFT (Los Angeles Chapter)
Member

I have been actively involved in my local chapter since 2021. I began my journey as one of the inaugural mentors in the Therapists of Color Mentorship Program (TOCMP), and my role within the chapter quickly expanded. I joined the Diversity Committee and became one of the facilitators of the Black Therapists Support Group. In 2022, I joined the LA-CAMFT Board of Directors as the co-chair of TOCMP, and since 2023 I have also served as chair and board member-at-large of the TOCMP Committee. As a member of the Chapter Advisory Council, I am eager to provide support to chapters of all sizes using a diverse lens. My goal is to assist chapters with improving member engagement and fostering connections through inclusive partnerships and collaboration. In this role, I aim to pinpoint opportunities that showcase CAMFT's membership offerings, ensuring that MFTs receive the support they need and genuinely deserve.

Jodie Shea, LMFT (Orange County Chapter)
Member

I’m new to the Chapter Advisory Council and state-level CAMFT involvement, though I have volunteered for and attended events hosted by multiple local chapters. My greatest involvement has been with the Orange County Chapter, where I served as secretary for three years and then as president in 2024; I will continue on in that role for 2025. I love to lead, share resources, and brainstorm efficient and innovative ways for us to tackle common struggles as therapists, business owners, and chapter leaders. I believe strongly in building community and empowering one another, which I hope to bring to my local chapter and to CAMFT as a whole. In addition to volunteering, I’ve been in solo private practice (Pillow Talk Therapy) since 2019. I value education, healing, diversity, connection, and challenging stigma, as a therapist and in my other roles. I love to advocate for honoring authenticity and real-life struggles. CAMFT is a great next step on my journey!

Amber Tyner, LMFT (Long Beach-South Bay Chapter)
Member

This is my first year serving as a member of the Chapter Leadership Council. I have served on the Long Beach-South Bay (LBSB) Chapter board for four years as programs director and as membership director. Serving on the board has afforded me many opportunities to advance as a therapist, such as networking with other therapists and gaining access to office space. What I like most about being on the board is the camaraderie of my fellow board members and the friendships I’ve fostered with other therapists. I’m a helper by nature, so joining the CAC was a natural progression for me given my passion for seeing others succeed. I’m looking forward to a great year on the council, and I hope to encourage other therapists to reach beyond serving clients to serve their peers and therapeutic community, as well.

Ava Denise Phillips, LMFT (Inland Empire Chapter)
Board Liaison

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.

— Maya Angelou

I have served my community in the mental health field for more than 27 years, much of that time spent in community mental health. I’ve been licensed by the state of California since 2001 and in private practice since 2017—I enjoy the autonomy! I humbly serve as president-elect of the CAMFT board. I started my support of CAMFT in the Inland Empire Chapter, where I served on the board for four years. I understand the value of giving CAMFT chapters a voice as well as unwavering support from the board. My life philosophy is this: “You must work for what you get, you must be accountable for your actions and reactions, your opinion is just that—yours—and yes, God does allow U-turns.”

CONSIDER JOINING A CHAPTER

CAMFT chapters offer exciting events in your local area that can enrich your practice with relevant continuing education workshops and networking opportunities. Click here to find your local chapter.

CAMFT MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL CHAPTER EVENTS ACROSS THE STATE
Don’t forget to click here throughout the year for a list of upcoming events throughout the State. Events are listed by Chapter/Region.

WELCOME NEW CEPA PROVIDERS

• Maria Therese Patricia (Chay) Romea Tanchanco
• Lynn Jiminez, LCSW DBA Connect Flow Grow
• Sara Ashley Baker, LMFT  
• WestEd 
• Himlin Consulting, LLC  
• Jane Bertolani  
• Los Angeles County Office Of Education (LACOE)
• Westside DBT, Inc. 
• Immigration Diagnostic Evaluations Academy
• Kaiser Permanente, Greater Southern Alameda Alliance    
• Pact, An Adoption Alliance  
• Casa Treatment Center  
• Luis B. Martinez 

IT'S EASY TO BECOME A CAMFT-APPROVED PROVIDER 
Have you ever thought about sharing your knowledge and skill while supplementing your income? Now is the perfect time to become a CAMFT-Approved Continuing Education Provider! APPLY TODAY! 

Apply before 01/31/25 and use the code CEPACHEER when calling in your payment to get 25% off the Initial Application Fee. Get the details.     

LET CERTIFIED SUPERVISOR CANDIDATES KNOW THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO BE A CONSULTANT

The Directory lets those interested in becoming a Certified Supervisor know who is willing to be a consultant.  

It’s easy! Simply log in and navigate to the area under Certified Supervisor Program. Click on “Willing to be a Consultant for a Certified Supervisor Applicant.” Candidates can sort the list by those who are willing, so it may increase your visibility!  

NEW RESOURCE AVAILABLE FOR THE CAMFT CERTIFIED SUPERVISOR PROGRAM! 

To better serve you and maintain the CAMFT Certified Supervisor Program’s (CSP) Creed to go “Above and Beyond,” the CSP Committee is now using a set of questions to review the topics and score the Case Summary. 

For a helpful cheat sheet to guide your Case Summary writing, CLICK HERE. 

Please remember that Consultants must review and approve the Case Summary before the Verification of Completion application goes to the Committee.

NEW UPDATES TO THE CAMFT CERTIFIED SUPERVISOR PROGRAM!   

Certified Supervisor Logo   

The Certified Supervisor Program now has a logo! You can use this brand-new logo on your professional advertising and informational materials including business cards, letterhead, brochures, and website. To use the logo, please download this form by clicking here, sign and send it to csp@camft.org.  

Add Your Photo  

The Directory of CAMFT Certified Supervisors now comes with your picture! When Supervisees are looking for a Supervisor, we recommend they reach out to a CAMFT Certified Supervisor and direct them to this Directory. If you’d like to add your photo to your record, simply Log-In to your Dashboard, and click on the area for your photo, and upload your headshot! This is a GREAT way to personalize your listing!  

We are thrilled to introduce five NEW Supervision Workshops, totaling 12 CEs! Discover them all in our On-Demand Learning Library. 

• Supervision, How to Make it a Treat and Not a Trick (2 CEs) 

• Challenges in Supervision (2 CEs) 

• Relationship-Based Supervision Through the Lens of Attachment (2.5 CEs) 

• Guidance for Supervisors (2.5 CEs) 

• Taking the Supervisory Relationship to the Next Level: Clinical Supervision in the Changing World (3 CEs) 

Don’t forget that the BBS requires supervisors to complete a minimum of six (6) hours of continuing professional development in supervision during each renewal period. 

*Reminder: Supervisors may apply their CAMFT supervisor course training hours to their overall CE requirements with one exception. A course taken on law and ethics designed specifically to meet supervisor training requirements CANNOT also be accepted toward meeting the six-hour law and ethics course required of all licensees each renewal period. A single course will not fulfill both requirements. 

DISPLAY AD ORDERS FOR THE MAY/JUNE 2025 EDITION EDITION OF THE THERAPIST
Place your display ad order by March 15, 2025. More Information.

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